Cheryl Cole has admitted she used to phone her two pet dogs when she was away – until she realised they weren’t interested in her calls. The X Factor judge, 27, revealed she missed her chihuahuas Coco and Buster “like crazy”.

She said: “I used to talk to them on the phone but I don’t now because I’ve discovered they’re not interested. They don’t listen.”

But despite the snub, Cheryl said she loves spending time with them. She confessed: “That’s how I relax, just chilling out with them.

“They’re only chihuahuas so they’re only little, but they have got big personalities.”

Speaking to Hello! magazine, the Geordie singer added: “Buster sees himself as lord of the manor and if I’m away and my mum takes him up to Newcastle, it’s like he’s kingpin up there as well.

“Coco’s nervous of other people so she follows me everywhere and looks to me for protection. She’s my baby.”